Manual charger for a firearm



y 1958 R. L. HILLBERG 2,845,001

MANUAL CHARGER FOR A FIREARM Filed Nov. 30, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 W 26 l34 q IN V EN TOR.

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MANUAL CHARGER FOR A FIREARM Filed Nov. 30, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 N 4644 4 72 r M- INVENTOR.

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MANUAL CHARGER FOR A FIREARM I Filed Nov. 30. 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN TOR.

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United States Patent MANUAL CHARGER FOR A FIREARM Robert L. Hillberg,West Cheshire, Conn., assignor to the United States of America asrepresented by the Secretary of the Army Application November 30, 1955,Serial No. 550,233

3 Claims. (Cl. 89-1) This invention relates to chargers for firearms andmore particularly to manual chargers for firearms having longitudinallyreciprocating bolts.

With firearms wherein it is necessary to retract the bolt to charge theweapon there is generally provided an accessory device which facilitatesthe rearward movement of the bolt. Such devices are generally actuatedto move the bolt rearwardly by hydraulic or manual means and arereturnable to normal forward position by spring means.

Such spring means are generally of a compressible coil-spring type whichhas not been entirely satisfactory for several reasons. These reasonsinclude the variations in the resiliency of the spring during actuationof the charger, the relatively large space required to house a springlong enough to be compressed the distance equal to the length of thetravel of the bolt, and the susceptibility of the spring to damage andmalfunctions by the atmosphere and foreign matter.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide for a firearman improved manually operated charger which is positive in operation,compact in size and rugged in construction.

It is another object of this invention to provide for firearms a chargerhaving a compact spring means which is long-lived, protected fromforeign matters and which has a relatively constant resiliency duringfull actuation.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a charger wherebythe firearm bolt may be locked in an open position.

The specific nature of the invention as well as other objects andadvantages thereof will clearly appear from a description of a preferredembodiment as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a side view showing the charger mounted to a firearm;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of the charger in normal positionand a tWo-to-one force is applicable against the charging arm;

Fig. 3 is similar to Fig. 2 but showing the relationship of the partswhen a one-to-one force is applicable against the charging arm;

Fig. 4 is a section taken along line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a section taken along line 55 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a section taken along line 6--6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the charger arm fullyretracted and cammed down to return the bolt;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the bolt locked in openposition by the lock switch; and

Fig. 9 is a perspective, partially cross-sectioned view of the charger.

Shown in the figures is a firearm 12 having a bolt 14 mounted forlongitudinal movement between a recoil and a battery position in areceiver 15. Extending from the side of bolt 14 is a lug 16 whichprojects through a longitudinal hole 18 provided in the side of receiver15.

Detachably mounted to the side of receiver immediately below hole 18,and parallel therewith, is'a charger 20 having a rectangular, hollowcase 22 comprised of a top, bottom and two side walls, noted at 24, 26and 28, respectively, which define an elongated rectangular opening insuch case. Fixed within the front end of case 22 is a front trunnion 30which is substantially L-shaped in construction and is provided with afoot portion 32 which extends rearwardly along the inside of bottom wall26 and a leg portion 36. Foot portion 32 is terminated by a verticallydisposed planar surface 34 and leg portion 36 is provided with anarcuate cut 38 which is arranged transversely through the front portionof such leg portion to provide a clearance for a spring device 40.

Spring device 40 is rotatably mounted on an axle 42, which extendstransversely through case 22, by means of a cylindrical bobbin 44 havingan axial hole 46 for rotatably receiving such axle. Wound around theoutside perimeter of bobbin 44 and attached at one end thereto is a fiatcoiled spring 48 of Negator type which is prestressed to resilientlywind itself tightly around such bobbin. The outer free end of spring 48,noted at 50, is provided with an attached eyepiece 52 and such spring isWound around bobbin 44 so as to be unwound therefrom when such free endis pulled rearwardly from the p top of such bobbin along the inside oftop Wall 24.

Mounted for slidable movement inside case 22 is an actuator member 54having a pair of side plates 56 which are substantially of the sameheight as the inside of side walls 28 so as to prevent angulardisplacement of such actuator member when slidingly moved. Side plates56 are spaced apart to slidingly engage side walls 28 by a base 58 whichis fixed between such side plates adjacent the lower sides thereof. Base58 protrudes upwardly, as noted at 60, at the front end and suchprotrusion is located approximately midway of the front and rear ends ofside plates 56.

Provided longitudinally along the outside of each of the side walls 28and adjacent the bottom sides thereof are similar rectangular channels62 which slidingly receive the parallel arm portions 64 of asubstantially U-shaped anchor member 66. Arm portions 64 are rectangularin cross-section and are connected at the rear ends by an end portion68.

The forward positions of anchor member 66 and actuator member 54 areestablished by the contacts thereof with planar surface 34. Whenactuator member 54 and anchor member 66 are in contact withplanar'surface 34, end portion 68 extends rearwardly of such actuatormember which is, therefore, slidable between contacts with planarsurface 34 and end portion 68. Anchor member 66 is slidable betweencontacts with front trunnion 30 and a rear trunnion 70 which is fixedwithin the rear end of case 22. Actuator member 54 is biased forwardlyby spring 48 which is attached thereto by means of a pin 71 which ismounted transversely through side plates 56 and eyepiece 52.

Mounted transversely through side walls 28 above and forward ofprotrusion 60 is a pin 72 upon which there is pivotally mounted acharger arm 74. Charger arm 74 is essentially of V-configuration, andpin 72 is located therein at the junction of an arm portion 77 whichextends downwardly forward of said protrusion and past base 58 and anactuating arm 78 which inclines upwardly and rearwardly from suchjunction. The end of actuating arm 78 extends through a longitudinalopening 80 in top wall 24 so as to be engageable with lug 16 for movingbolt 14 to recoil position When actuator member 54 is moved rearwardlyin case 22, as hereinafter described. Actuating arm 78 is heldresiliently upward by a springbiased plunger 82 mounted in protrusion60. Upward position of actuating arm 78 is established by contactbetween arm 77 and the front end of base 58. The top side of actuatingarm 78 provides a cam surface 84 which is slidingly co-operable with lug16 for depressing such actuating arm downwardly to permit passagethereof past such lug during forward travel of actuator member 54 andthereby permit engagement of the rear end of actuating arm 78, noted at86, with such lug during rearward movement of such actuator member.

Rotatably mounted between side plates 56, rearwardly of protrusion 60,is a pulley 88 which receives a cable 90. Cable 90 is anchored at oneend to end portion 68 of anchor member 66 and extends upwardly andaround pulley 88 and outside of case 22 through a port 92 in the upperportion of rear trunnion 70. A funnel-shaped bearing 94 is fixedlymounted to the rear side of rear trunnion 70 in line with port 92thereby permitting cable 90, passing therethrough, to be pulled in anydirection. The free end of cable 90 is terminated by a handle member 96which is in contact with bearing 94 when actuator member 54 and anchormember 66 are in normal forward position. Whereby, the resilient forwardpressure of spring 48 against actuator member 54 causes anchor member66, through cable 90, to be pressed resiliently against planar surface34.

Provided on the underside of case 22 for releasably holding bolt 14 inan open position is a lock assembly 98 comprised of a housing 100, atongue 102 mounted for slidable vertical movement in such housing withthe upper end being extendable into case 22, a knob portion 108 which isrotatably mounted to the outside end of such plunger and a spring 104for biasing such tongue upwardly into case 22 until such knob contactsthe underside of such housing. Tongue 102 is rectangular inconfiguration, and therefore nonrotatable in housing 100. and isterminated at the upper end by a cam portion 110 which inclines upwardlyand rearwardly from the front side thereof. Knob portion 108 is providedwith a pair of diametrically opposed V-shaped detents 112 which arereceivable in mating recesses 114 in the bottom of housing 100. Detents112 are of such height that when in recess 114 tongue 102 projectsupwardly inside of case 22 sufliciently to engage the end of arm 77which, because of the engagement thereof with the front end of base 58,blocks bolt 14 from moving forwardly thereby and when pulled downwardand turned to contact the bottom of housing 100 is away from engagementby such arm. A pair of shallow indentations 116 is provided in thebottom of housing 100, preferably at right angles to recess 114, forreceiving detents 112 to secure knob portion 108 against rotation.

Fixedly mounted to the underside of case 22, rearwardly of lock assembly98, is a cam block 118 which projects upwardly into such case tocammingly engage the end of arm 77 and pivot actuating arm 78 out ofengagement with lug 16 when bolt 14 is adjacent recoil position, therebypermitting such bolt to return to battery position through the bias ofthe firearm mechanism.

Operation When it is desired to charge firearm 12, and bolt 14 is in theforward position in receiver 15, the operator pulls on cable 90 by meansof handle member 96 attached thereto. The pull on cable 90 is translatedto longitudinal movement of such cable within case 22 by bearing 94. Therearward force against cable 90 is translated to a forward force againstanchor member 66 by pulley 88. Anchor member 66, however, is preventedfrom moving forwardly because of the contact between the front ends ofarms 64 and front trunnion 30. Such rearward force, therefore, causesactuator member 54 to be moved rearwardly instead. During the initialtravel of actuator member 54, between contacts with front trunnion andend portion 58, the mechanical advantage provided by pulley 88 causesactuator member 54 to exert a force which is double that applied tohandle member 96. Thereby, extra force is applied against bolt 14, bymeans of the contact between actuating arm 78 and lug 16, during the 4period when extra force is required to unlock such bolt from batteryposition. After actuator member 54 contacts anchor member 66, both moverearwardly together through the direct pull on cable 90.

When bolt 14 has been drawn rearwardly and is adjacent recoil position,the camming engagement of arm 77 with cam block 118 pivots actuating arm78 downwardly out of engagement with lug 16, permitting bolt 14 toreturn to battery position through the bias of the firearm mechanism.

While actuator member 54 is being pulled rearwardly, spring 48, which isattached to such actuator member by means of eyepiece 52, was unwoundfrom bobbin 44. Therefore, when firearm 12 is charged and the operatorreleases his pull against handle member 96 the resilience in spring 48causes such spring to rewind itself around bobbin 44 and pull actuator54 and anchor member 66 forwardly to their normal positions. Duringforward movement of actuator member 54, actuating arm 78 camminglyengages lug 16 and is pivoted downwardly thereby so as to pass forwardlyof such lug and in position to retract bolt 14 again when handle memberis pulled.

Oftentimes, it is desirable to lock bolt 14 between bat-* tery andrecoil positions to eject jammed cartridges from the barrel chamber,etc. This is possible by the device of this invention through therotation of lock assembly 98 to where detents 112 in knob 108 arereceived by the mating recesses 114 in housing 100. Whereby, tongue 102is pressed by spring 104 upwardly in front of arm 77, after beingdepressed thereby through the cooperation of cam portion during rearwardmovement of such bolt, ready to block such bolt against forwardmovement. The forward pull of spring 48 presses arm 77 rearwardly and,therefore, actuating arm 78 upwardly to assume engagement between end 86of such actuating arm and lug 16. Bolt 14 is releasable from tongue 102by turning head portion 108 whereby the V-shape of detents 112 cam suchknob, and tongue 102 attached thereto, downwardly.

From the foregoing it is clearly apparent that there is herein provideda manual charging device which is simple and rugged in construction andpositive in operation and which releasably holds the firearm bolt in anopen position. It is also obvious that through the use of a spring ofNegator type the charger is compact in size and the tightness of thecoils of the spring around the mounting bobbin prevents the intrusion offoreign particles therebetween and a resulting jamming of the spring aswith conventional coil springs.

Although a particular embodiment of the invention has been described indetail herein, it is evident that many variations may be devised withinthe spirit and scope thereof and the following claims are intended toinclude such variations.

I claim:

1. For a firearm having a bolt mounted for longitudinal movement betweena recoil and a battery position, a charger for retracting the bolt tothe battery position including a hollow case, handle means, an actuatingmember mounted in said case for slidable movement responsive to a forceagainst said handle means, an arm pivotably mounted to said actuatingmeans for releasably engaging said actuating means to said bolt foractuation thereof to said recoil position, lock means for releasablylocking the bolt between the recoil and battery positions, cam means forpivoting said arm to release the bolt from said actuating means when thebolt is adjacent the recoil position, a bobbin rotatably mounted in saidcase, a coil spring prestressed so as to resiliently coil tightly uponitself and around said bobbin and having an outer end attached to saidactuating means for retracting said actuating means to normal positionafter said spring is unwound by said actuating means during actuation ofthe bolt.

2. For a firearm having a bolt mounted for longitudinal movement betweena recoil and a battery position,

a charger for retracting the bolt to the battery position including ahollow case, handle means, an actuating member mounted in said case forslidable movement responsive to a force against said handle means, anarm pivotably mounted to said actuating means for releasably engagingsaid actuating means to said bolt for actuation thereof to said recoilposition, means for transmitting to said arm double the force applied tosaid handle means during initial movement of the bolt by said arm, lockmeans for releasably locking the bolt between the recoil and batterypositions, cam means for releasing the bolt from said actuating meanswhen the bolt is adjacent the recoil position, a bobbin rotatablymounted in said case, and a coil spring prestressed so as to coiltightly upon itself and around said bobbin and having an outer endattached to said actuating means for retraction thereof to normalposition after said spring is unwound during actuation of the bolt.

3. For a firearm having a bolt mounted for longitudinal movement betweena recoil and a battery position, a charger for retracting the bolt tothe battery position including a hollow case, handle means, an actuatingmember mounted in said case for slidable movement responsive to a forceagainst said handle means, an arm pivotably mounted to said actuatingmeans for releasably engaging said actuating means to said bolt foractuation thereof to said recoil position, pulley means for transmittingto said arm double the force applied to said handle means, anchor meansfor limiting the action of said pulley means to the initial retractionof the bolt by said arm, lock means for releasably locking the boltbetween the recoil and battery positions, cam means for releasing thebolt from said actuating means when the bolt is adjacent the recoilposition, a bobbin rotatably mounted in said case, and a coil springprestressed so as to coil tightly upon itself and around said bobbin andhaving an outer end attached to said actuating means for retractionthereof to normal position after said spring is unwound during actuationof the bolt.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,460,415 Gorton July 3, 1923 2,470,158 Gazda May 17, 1949 2,717,532Ramseyer Sept. 13, 1955

